Chain-link.



A. S. BIXBY. CHAIN LINK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, I915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1,178,052. Patnted Apia 4,1916.

A. S. BlXBY. CHAIN LINK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-20. I915.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLAN S. BIXBY, OF INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL MALLE- ABLE CASTINGS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CHAIN-LINK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

Application filed March 20, 1915. Serial No.15,7o'2.

angled relatively to each other; Fig. 4 is a.

detailed end view of the connection between adjacent links; Fig. 5 is a modification of my invention, showing an end view of the connection, partly in section; Fig. 6 is an elevation thereof, partly in section; Fig. 7

is another modification, showing an end view -of the connection between adjacent links, partly in section; Fig. 8 is an elevation thereof, partly in section; Fig. 9 is a further modification, showing an end view, partly insection, and Fig. 10 is an elevation partly in section, thereof.

My invention relates to chain links and consists particularly in providing connections between the links which will prevent the chain from elongating from wear in the joints, and at the same time will enable it to articulate freely when in use*.--.

My invention also consists in the construction and cooperation of the various parts to which I shall hereinafter refer.

Referring to'the drawings, ,in which I have illustrated my invention as applied to a chain comprised of links of the built-up type, A indicates the side bars of a link and B the pin having an enlarged or central'bearing portion 2, which may be made integral therewith. Each side bar A has apertured ends 3 and 4, the aperture 5 being in the end 3 and the aperture 6 in the end 4. The end 3, in its aperture 5, bears against the shoulder portion 2 of the pin B and has suflicient clearance in the aperture 5 to perunit the link to articulate relative to the pin, while-the aperture 6 of an end 4 of an adjacent link-is intended to be applied to the pin exteriorly of the end -3, and fit snugly upon the p'inB and to be immov-.

preferably of arc shape, so as to provide a p1votal movement between the pin B and the llnk A. The pulling surface 7 is preferably arranged about the center of the line of pull of the chain, sothat it will take up the pulling strains equally. As shown in Fig. 4, the line of pull or strain is halfway between the points a and b of the pulling surface 7 The lower side 9 of the aperture 5 and the lower side 10 of the pin B are-struck on arcs, of which 0 is the center, and the arc of the side 9 is carried rearwardly to the point (i, so as to allow sufiicient clearance to permit the pin and link to I articulate relatively to each other, and the side 11 of the aperture is accordingly cut away to the point (1.

When a chain constructed in accordance with my invention is put into use, any wear which takes placebetween the parts will take place between the points I) and 6 since substantially all of the wear occasioned by articulation will occur between these points. It is obvious that no wear will occur between the points a and 6, since, as the pin and theli'nk rotate relatively to each other, the side '1 of the aperture (as is shown in Fig. 3) moves away from-and does not rub upon the adjacent-side of the pin, and there can therefore be no wear on these surfaces. As is shown in Fig. 4, any wear which occurs on the link will be along the dotted line f and on the pin on the dotted line 9.

As this does not affect the surface 7 of the link or the adjacent side of the pin, the effective length of the chain will not be'increased by such wear. "When-the chain, as is shown herein, has separate pins and side bars they may be held in operative relation by .bendable lugs 12 on the ends 4 of the side bars which are intended to be bent over into notches 13 in the ends of the pins as is best shown in Fig. 6.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown another form of pin A, in which the articulation takes place about the center 0. In this form of my invention wear will occur along the surfaces fand g, and when articulation begins the link will slide about the pin In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a further modification of my invention, in which two round pins C and D are used. Obviously, the wear will occur on the surface 7 of the link and on the surface 9 of the pin C, and the pulling surface of the lower pin D will be unaffected by wear.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown a still further modification of my invention in which the pin is comprised of two parts C and D, and the wear, as before, will occur on the lines f and g and the lower part D will remain substantially unaffected by wear.

The terms and expressions which I have employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, to exclude any equivalent for the features shown and described, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

WVhat I claim is:

1. A chain comprising a pluralit of links connected to each other, each link being movable relatively to the adjacent links, each link having at one end a plurality of bearings and at the other end a plurality of corresponding engaging surfaces, one of said bearings being adapted to contact with the corresponding engaging surface of another link only during pulling, and another of said bearings being adapted to articulate upon the corresponding engaging surface of the second-mentioned link, whereby elongation of the chain is prevented.

2. A chain comprising ;a plurality of links, each link having a connection with adjacent links to transmit a pulling stress and to permit articulation between adjacent links. the contacting surfaces between adj acent links which transmit the pull being distinct from the contacting surfaces which permit articulation, whereby the surfaces transmitting pulling stresses are relieved of the wear of articulation.

3. A chain comprising a plurality of links, each link having a surface adapted to permit articulation with an adjacent link, and a pulling surface adapted to transmit stress to said adjacent link, said articulating surface being out of contact with the adjacent link when the links are in parallel relation and when said surface has become worn, and said pulling surface being out of contact with said adjacent link when said links are in angled relation.

4. A chain comprising a plurality of links, each link being movable relative to the adjacent links, each link having an end apertured for reception of a bearing portion of an adjacent link, each aperture in a link being flared at one end of the aperture to permit a part of the bearing portion of the adjacent link to. travel during articulation of the chain through an arc of a circle struck on a center outside of the said bearing portion.

5. A chain comprising a plurality of links, each link being movable relatively to the adjacent links, each link having an aperture having separate pulling and articulating surfaces with which corresponding bearing portions of an adjacent link are designed to engage, the pulling surface of the first-mentioned link being out of contact with the corresponding bearing portion of the second-mentioned link during articulation.

having a pulling engagement with each other comprising a pulling surface on each adjacent link, said surfaces being in contact when said links are in parallel relation, and out of contact when said links assume an angular relation in passing over a sprocket,

6. A chain comprising a plurality of links whereby such surfaces are relieved of the wear of articulation.

7. A chain comprising a plurality of links, each link having a plurality of surfaces adapted to engage corresponding surfaces on an adjacent link, one pair of such surfaces comprising a pin and socket engagement adapted to permit articulation of adjacent links, and another pair of surfaces being adapted to transmit a pull between adjacent links only when said links are in parallel relation.

8. In a joint for chain links, adjacent links having a plurality of' pairs of cooperating or engaging surfaces, one pair of said surfaces being curved to substantially the same radius and permitting articulation of the joint, and another pair of said surfaces being plane and transmitting a pull only when the said adjacent links forming the joint are in substantial alinement.

9. A chain comprising a plurality of links, each link having a plurality of sur-' faces adapted to engage corresponding surfaces on an adjacent link, one pair of said surfaces having a sliding engagement during articulation of adjacent links, and another pair of said surfaces being out of contact during articulation and having a nonsliding engagement when said links are in substantial alinement.

ALLAN S. BIXBY. Witnesses:

WM. J. BLACKMORE, OWEN S. WRIGHT. 

